Cockroach Janata Party threatens fresh protests over FIRs against demonstrators
The group alleged that the government's assurance of no punitive action against protesters was being violated.
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has threatened to resume its agitation if FIRs filed against students and other protesters are not withdrawn and detained demonstrators are not released.
The warning came two days after the group called off its 36-day protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi following assurances from the government on several of its demands.
In a post on X today (27 July), CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka alleged that the government's commitment to taking no punitive action against protesters was being violated.
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He claimed that hundreds of students had been arrested in Bihar and West Bengal, while others were being detained or harassed in Delhi and other states.
"We are observing a complete breach of the agreement regarding no police action against the protesters. Hundreds of students have been arrested in Bihar and Bengal, and hundreds are being surveilled/harassed in Delhi and other states," Ranka wrote.
He also alleged that volunteers supporting protesters with logistical assistance had been detained in Delhi.
Ranka said the CJP would be "forced to sit on protest again" if the government failed to address the issue.
"We demand that all FIRs against the protesters be immediately withdrawn, students be released and no future FIRs be filed by Delhi Police, central investigative agencies or police in BJP-allied states, failing which we will be forced to sit on protest again," he said.
The statement came amid legal action against protesters in Bihar following demonstrations on 22 July and 25 July.
Advocates claimed that nearly 200 people remained in custody at various police stations in the state after the protests.
The CJP ended its agitation at Jantar Mantar after the government accepted several of its demands, including the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The government also agreed to take steps towards withdrawing FIRs against peaceful protesters, provide compensation to families of students who died by suicide in line with existing rules, and consider the group's five-point charter on examination reforms.
